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Trial of genetically modified wheat approved

The Victorian Government is planning a big GM wheat trial near Horsham.

file photo: Getty Images

The office of the gene technology regulator has given approval for a field trial of genetically modified wheat in western Victoria.

It's issued the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries with a licence for a limited and controlled release of wheat lines, which have been modified for enhanced yield stability.

The crop is restricted to one site per growing season in the Horsham area, on no more than two hectares.

The regulator says the GM wheat will not be used for human or animal food.

“The finalised RARMP [Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan] concludes that this limited and controlled release poses negligible risks to people and the environment,” the regulator says in a statement.

“Licence conditions have been imposed to restrict spread and persistence of the GMOs and their genetic material in the environment and to limit the release in size, location and duration, as these were important considerations in the evaluation process.”

In a statement, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries says it’s expected the modifications will improve yield and stability, particularly under drought conditions.

“The GM wheat plants to be grown in this trial have been modified by introducing different combinations of two plant genes involved in plant sugar biosynthesis, as well as a gene from a common soil bacterium involved in plant hormone biosynthesis,” it said.

“No wheat crops or related species will be allowed to flower within 200 metres of the GM plants and the trial site and any other areas where GM material may be present after harvest will be thoroughly cleaned.

“At least two years of post-harvest monitoring will be undertaken and all transport of the GM plants will be carried out in a completely secure way.”